FOR anywhere else, the commercial pitch would focus on the presence in the cast of Eighties pin-up Jason Donovan, now a regular man of the musicals, from The War Of The Worlds to Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.

Not so in Leeds, however, because The Sound Of Music marks a homecoming for Verity Rushworth, who trained at the SPL College In Leeds, took her first steps in pantomime at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, at three and played Donna Windsor in Emmerdale for 11 years.

Now she is starring as Maria Rainer, the role forever associated with Julie Andrews but latterly with Connie Fisher after Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for a star on BBC1 that led to the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical on the West End stage.

This slick production, directed by Jeremy Sams and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, is the touring version of that show, and Verity Rushworth fits the nun's role like the proverbial glove. She is at once demure, bonny, tender, warm, respectful yet resolute, troubled on occasion yet strong when required.

She sings ever so prettily, bonds appealingly with the Von Trapp children and has all the chemistry you could wish for with Donovan's upstanding, stern but loving Captain.

Robert Jones's sets cannot quite bring the hills alive in the manner of the film but the skyline still stretches far and the interiors are plush.

The spreading cancer of Nazism could be darker but for the female-dominated audience, The Sound Of Music definitely remains one of their Favourite Things.

The Sound Of Music, Leeds Grand Theatre, until June 25. Box office: 0844 848 2700.